LONG-established Keighley duo Fay & Latta have won the Best Acoustic Act award in a national contest. The pair landed the accolade in the Book Entertainment National Event Entertainment Awards 2019.

The awards, from website BookEntertainment.co.uk, set out to recognise the best in the event entertainment industry across the UK. The duo, Anneka Latta and Tom Fay, said they were “thoroughly delighted” to hear the news.

They added: “It’s been an incredible journey from being picked as the judges’ Wild Card to going on to win the national event. It’s unbelievable. We can’t thank people enough for the support we’ve received.”

The awards focus on many aspects of the events industry, and are voted on by clients. Categories include best wedding band, jazz act, tribute act, vocalist, function band, non-musical entertainer, along with best event, photo booth and mobile DJ.

Anneka and Tom became well-known on the local music scene as part of 1990s heavy-metal band Exoteric, after Anneka started out as a musician with hugely popular Keighley band Soulfish.

Breaking out on their own, in 2008 the couple released the first of four albums, and now operate with two distinct styles: playing their own music and performing at functions.

Fay & Latta’s original songs are described as hauntingly beautiful and radio-friendly, with thoughtful and incisive lyrics matched by great tunes.

Their music has been placed on mainstream US television such as Heartland, Devious Maids and LA Ink, and within independent movies such as Forgetting The Girl.

The duo have opened to sell-out crowds for successful artists such as Toploader, The Hoosiers and Blue October.

Fay & Latta perform at parties, weddings, corporate events and award ceremonies with their band Audio Test Pilots.